Subject: Re: Ferguson - time sensitive
From: Dan Schwerin <[email-masked]>
To: Huma Abedin <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]'" <[email-masked]>
Cc: "[email-masked]'" <[email-masked]>, Nick Merrill <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]'" <[email-masked]>, "[email-masked]'" <[email-masked]>, Philippe Reines <[email-masked]>, Ethan Gelber <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 23:32:01 +0000

So everyone has the context, this is a draft McCaskill statement we saw:
“There will be many people who are disappointed in today’s decision, even though it is a result of a deliberate legal process that’s being checked by Attorney General Eric Holder and the U.S. Justice Department. While we await the conclusion of that independent investigation—and continue working together for solutions to systemic problems highlighted by this tragedy—I’m hopeful the good people of St. Louis and local law enforcement will remain peaceful and respectful of one another.”

From: Huma Abedin <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>
Date: Monday, November 24, 2014 at 3:21 PM
To: Robby Mook <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>, Dan <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>
Cc: Jake Sullivan <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>, Nick Merrill <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>, Cheryl Mills <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>, "[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>'" <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>, Philippe Reines <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>, Ethan Gelber <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>
Subject: Re: Ferguson - time sensitive

Nick and I just raised with her.
She doesn't want to do. Sensitive to a few things:
1. Decision won't be announced until 2 hours after we speak.
2. This statement is long and over the top. If she does a statement, should be short like Claire McCaskill.
3. She never spoke out when the 2 AA men were killed in NY.
3. Would prefer to say "amen" to potus and attorney general, not to pre-empt any other statements.
4. She's decided to feels strongly and doesn't want to say anything tonight
5. We have not heard from any of our friends who say she must speak out now.

From: Robert Mook [mailto:[email-masked]]
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2014 05:24 PM Eastern Standard Time
To: Dan Schwerin <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>
Cc: Jake Sullivan <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>; Nick Merrill <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>; Cheryl Mills <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>; John Podesta <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>; Huma Abedin; Philippe Reines <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>; Ethan Gelber <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>
Subject: Re: Ferguson - time sensitive

I just think when people are angry and want her to react they're going to want it regardless of what she says tonight.  So, no harm in her saying anything tonight..just think she'll need to say it again.

On Mon, Nov 24, 2014 at 5:14 PM, Dan Schwerin <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>> wrote:
That’s the rub.  I think if we did this robust statement on camera beforehand, we could probably get away with a tweet afterwards along the lines of: "Praying for both peace & justice in Ferguson. DOJ still investigating, but let’s not wait on criminal justice reforms there & across U.S."

From: Robby Mook <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>
Date: Monday, November 24, 2014 at 2:05 PM
To: Dan <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>
Cc: Jake Sullivan <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>, Nick Merrill <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>, Cheryl Mills <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>, John Podesta <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>, Huma Abedin <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>, Philippe Reines <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>, Ethan Gelber <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>>
Subject: Re: Ferguson - time sensitive

Content is strong and good.
My assumption is she will still be expected to react to the actual decision--is this being seen as a replacement to that?  I guess my inclination would just be to wait (why say two things rather than one?), but I don't feel strongly.  I don't think, however, that she won't be expected to comment later even if she does this tonight.

On Mon, Nov 24, 2014 at 4:56 PM, Dan Schwerin <[email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>> wrote:
As you’ve probably heard, the grand jury in Ferguson has reached a decision on whether to charge the police officer in the death of Michael Brown.  The decision is expected to be announced around 9pm ET.  HRC is speaking at an open press event this evening sometime between 6:30-7:30pm.  I believe it’s her last scheduled open press event of the week.  After talking with Nick, our suggestion is that we consider having her address Ferguson at the conclusion of her remarks, even though the decision will not be known yet.  That way she can frame some of the larger issues at play and we can have her on camera.  That seems better than a paper statement or tweet later on.  Attached and below is what I propose she says.  Time is short, so I’d love quick feedback if possible.
Thanks
Dan

Now, before I close, I would like to say a few words about what’s happening tonight in Missouri.  Like so many other Americans, my prayers are with the people of Ferguson – with the family and loved ones of Michael Brown who have suffered such a terrible loss, with this wounded community demanding justice, and with the law enforcement officers doing everything they can to protect public safety and uphold the rule of law.

As many of you know, a decision from the grand jury is expected this evening.  Whatever the outcome, there are a few things I believe it’s important that we keep in mind tonight and in the days ahead.

First, let’s remember that this decision will be just one step in a process that will hopefully lead toward healing, reform, and accountability.  The Department of Justice continues to investigate both this case and the broader conduct of the Ferguson police department.  The people of Ferguson deserve a full and fair accounting, as well as substantive reforms that ensure equality, justice and respect for every citizen.  That is the only way this community is going to stitch itself back together.

More broadly, events in Ferguson have forced our country to grapple with hard truths that extend far beyond one Missouri suburb, and we can’t allow ourselves to close our eyes or turn our heads when this story eventually falls out of the headlines.

There are Fergusons all over America.  Despite all the progress we’ve made together, African Americans are still more likely to be stopped and searched by police, charged with crimes, and sentenced to longer prison terms.  A third of all black men face the prospect of prison during their lifetimes, a staggering number that has devastating consequences for families and communities across our country.

The United States has less than five percent of the world’s population, yet we have almost 25 percent of the world’s total prison population.  That’s not because Americans are more violent or criminal than others around the world – far from it.  It’s because we have allowed our criminal justice system to get out of balance.

I hope that out of the tragedy in Ferguson, we can come together as a nation to begin a serious and substantive debate about how we find our balance again.  There’s encouraging progress to build on.  Since 2008, both rates of crime and incarceration have actually fallen together for the first time in 40 years.

All over the country there are creative and effective police departments demonstrating that it is possible to keep us safe and reduce crime and violence without relying on unnecessary force or excessive incarceration.  There are officers out there every day inspiring trust and confidence rather than fear and frustration.

We can learn from these examples, invest in what works, and make sure that federal funds to state and local law enforcement are used to bolster best practices rather than buy weapons of war that have no place on our streets.

Tonight, we pray for peace and justice.  But tomorrow, let’s redouble our efforts to turn those prayers into real progress for the people in Missouri and all across America.

Thank you.

###